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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Chapter 7
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M-Ten and Colors' ambitious new project, 'Make a New Color'.
What was the reaction to 'Menu-Col' (commonly known as 'Menu-Col')?
During the teaser period, it only garnered a modest amount of anticipation from a few.
Fans of Colors' existing idols had mixed reactions to the news of 'Make a New Color'.
Half anticipation, half dissatisfaction.
What kind of trainees would appear next?
Why are they debuting new idols when they should be focusing on the existing ones?
However, everyone had at least 'some' interest.
Let's at least see what they look like.
And once the self-introduction videos, the real sneak peek, began—
★
Ryu Bo-ra: You're so pretty.
Me: I'm dying.
#Todays_Weather_Is_PurpleRainbow
I can't look at Kim Geum anymore. Kim Geum looks like a woman to me, and I've fallen in love with that woman. Knowing it can never be, I'm trying to tear out this heart that loves Kim Geum.
Ryeo-yu, I'm sixty, how can I live without you?
The reactions completely flipped.
Colors is Colors, after all.
Most of the comments praised the trainees for being incredibly well-chosen.
A guide to whose Menu-Col videos you should watch.
You don't need to watch all 12 trainees (unless you're a Colors stan), this is for casual viewers.
Ryu Bo-ra - Her face is amazing. Honestly, she's the visual center. You could stare at her face for a full minute. Her skills are decent too.
Seo Baek-yeong - As expected of a 10-year trainee, her experience is top-tier. But she seems more likely to attract female fans than male fans.
Yeon Ju-hong - She's not exceptionally good, but she has a certain charm. She's cute and tugs at the heartstrings of every fangirl.
Kim Geum - Her rap is top-tier. I don't know about idol fans, but she's inexplicably drawing in hip-hop fans.
Kim Ryeo-yu - Despite the center controversy, she's actually good? Her skills are top-tier. Honestly, she's in the top three.
Jo Hui-on - Well-balanced. Worth watching.
★★Yun Cheong★★
- Sorry, I actually baited you to promote her.
She's just a definite Main Vocal.
A Main Vocal who can dance and has visuals?
But the most surprising thing is she's good at composing too.
She sang her self-composed song, and it's genuinely good.
Honestly, most self-composed songs flop, but hers is really good. I don't know why it's good, I just hope those M-Ten guys release the full song soon.
Just give it a try. Try, try!
She seems like she'll carry on the Colors Main Vocal legacy.
What is this, you nerd?
Casual viewers don't even watch this stuff anyway.
└LOL, only Col-ducks will watch this haha (Col-duck).
But honestly, Yun Cheong is undeniably amazing. That's undeniable.
Of course, among them, the one with the best reaction was undoubtedly—
What's up with this Yun Cheong person?; Watched without expectations and got hooked;
Me.
★
Seriously, the one I didn't expect did the best; Colors truly excels at Main Vocals...
Did you see Yun Cheong's 1-minute self-intro? It's amazing.
Colors trainee who sang her self-composed song in her 1-minute self-introduction.
***
Today was a rare day without filming.
Of course, that didn't mean it was a day off.
Days without schedules were practice days.
That was a given rule.
Especially since we had to prepare for the upcoming shoot.
“Hello.”
I greeted them as I opened the practice room door.
“Oh, Cheong, hi.”
“Hello!”
The atmosphere in the practice room had definitely changed.
Before, they'd barely acknowledge my greetings, but now everyone reciprocated.
Also, I could feel everyone's attention shifting towards me.
O-Tube, social media, and online communities are scary for this reason.
The reactions are uploaded in real-time, in their 'raw' form.
And there was no way the trainees wouldn't see them.
It was directly related to their debut, after all.
I acted as usual.
Just because I've caught some attention for now, it doesn't mean it's a big deal.
This is just the beginning.
If I slip up even a little here, I could end up as a bottom candidate again.
After warming up, I played the choreography demonstration video again.
The choreography video for 'Menu-Col's' first main song.
The main stage that would appear at the beginning of episode 1.
As if they weren't 'Colors' enough, their first song is something about a rainbow.
'The center is important for a song like this.'
I heard that the center was decided immediately, without any discussion.
By none other than Director Kim Mo-gyeong. Without any reason.
Very unfairly.
'Isn't that too much? They know how important the center is, yet they're so unfair...'
'It's not just once or twice. Their favoritism is too obvious, it's annoying.'
'Hey, hey, someone's listening.'
Perhaps because of that, there was quite a bit of dissatisfaction among the trainees.
...I overheard it on my way here.
“Unnie!”
It was Yeon Ju-hong.
According to Yun Cheong's memories, she was what you'd call 'the quintessential maknae.' She was very charming, bubbly, and followed her Unnies well.
But, there were times when she was strangely scary.
...I'll have to wait and see to understand why she's supposedly scary. It feels less like 'actually scary' and more like it has another meaning.
“Hm?”
“Did you hear who our center is?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“No, aren't they crazy? How can they decide the center without a single word of discussion with us?”
“Haha.”
“I really need to be born with a silver spoon in my mouth in my next life, seriously.”
Yeon Ju-hong didn't seem to be expecting a reply from me, as she chattered away before leaving.
What a whirlwind of a person.
“…You heard, right?”
This time, it was Seo Baek-yeong.
I wondered why everyone was suddenly acting friendly towards me, then I realized the reason.
It's because I've become a strong debut candidate.
“About what?”
“About *her* becoming the center.”
“Ah, yes.”
Seo Baek-yeong sighed.
“You don't seem very angry?”
“Oh, no. I wasn't really a center candidate to begin with.”
At my honest words, Seo Baek-yeong flinched.
You were at least a center candidate, but Yun Cheong wasn't even considered.
“Right, what's the point of telling you this? My bad. Keep practicing.”
I nodded vaguely and continued my choreography practice.
Ah, so who was the center?
Well, of course, there was only one person.
Kim Ryeo-yu.
***
“Let's do a quick mic check, everyone!”
This was one of M-Ten's studios.
Normally used for music broadcasts, it seemed to be specially utilized for 'Menu-Col' today.
They've set up the stage quite nicely.
Since the song title was 'Rainbow,' a rainbow-themed set was prepared.
It was a concept that could easily look tacky, but it wasn't tacky at all. Instead, it felt fresh and vibrant.
As expected of a large company, they covered up any potential tackiness with capital.
I suddenly thought of my original agency.
I wasn't originally from a large agency. I was from a small-to-medium sized one. What do I mean small-to-medium? Calling it an 'insignificant' company was an understatement.
...Still, it was now considered a medium-to-large agency.
Of course, that was thanks to me.
When I debuted, it was just a small enterprise. I was their only artist.
They naturally had no money, and even less marketing power. CEO Seo, the agency's representative, was a person with nothing much besides persistence and tenacity.
No, wait, I suppose you could say he had an eye for talent since he scouted me.
“We're going to do a rehearsal, everyone, you all know the basic rules, right? You need to look at the camera with the light on.”
PD O Baek-gyeong rolled up his script and pointed it at the trainees.
His personality, seriously...
I glanced at the camera.
Seeing the light on, this must be filming too. I need to stay sharp.
“Alright, everyone, check your formations! Pay attention to your spacing. The set isn't the same as the practice room.”
I nodded, then looked at Seo Baek-yeong.
It seems like it's your turn to step up.
“Girls, our stage is a bit dangerous, so pay close attention. There's a ledge here, so be careful not to step off. You know there's no going back if you trip and twist an ankle here, right?”
Sure enough, Seo Baek-yeong, true to her seniority, was giving advice to the other trainees one by one.
“Gyeong-a and Cheong are at the very ends, so be extra careful. Got it?”
“Yes.”
“Su-in and Hui-on. Watch your spacing. Your spacing isn't right now. Can't you get your spacing right just because there's no mirror?”
Seo Baek-yeong checked on the people on the edges first, then slowly moved towards the center.
“Ryeo-yu, since you're the center, you know you have to be the best, right?”
Oh, there's a sting in her words.
PD O Baek-gyeong seemed to think the same thing, calling over a camera and pointing it at the two of them.
Such a petty person.
Honestly, I was puzzled when I first heard that Kim Ryeo-yu had been appointed as the center without any discussion.
Selecting the center was a good topic to use for broadcasting.
The competition and passion among the trainees, and the skills they displayed during the selection process.
All of that was content.
But they gave up such good content material and just immediately designated Kim Ryeo-yu as the center?
PD O Baek-gyeong? Why?
However, I soon understood the reason.
“Of course, I have to do well, thank you, Unnie.”
On the contrary, PD O Baek-gyeong was planning to milk content out of this 'appointment'.
But that's strange. I naturally assumed PD O Baek-gyeong would be in cahoots with Director Kim Mo-gyeong. Is he not?
Then again. PD O Baek-gyeong... he's the type who can't stand having anyone above him...
Is it pride over money? I wondered who would win between these two proud individuals, then stopped myself.
No matter who won, it didn't feel like a good situation.
“There's nothing to be thankful for. If you're thankful, just do well.”
Both spoke with bright smiles for the camera, but their tones were laced with thorns.
It was understandable.
If the center were to be decided by dance, it should have been Seo Baek-yeong.
If the center were to be decided by visuals—though visuals are subjective, so you can't pick just one—it certainly wouldn't be Kim Ryeo-yu.
I looked around at the twelve trainees.
Right.
If you absolutely had to pick based on visuals, it would be Ryu Bo-ra.
Her physique was striking, and perhaps because she was an actress, her expressions were great—and above all, her face was simply the best.
She was, dare I say, the ideal center.
“Ready? Let's go for rehearsal!”
Well, regardless, Yun Cheong still lacked the standing to be the center.
Although she was considered Main Vocal material, the assessment so far was that everything else besides her vocals was bleak.
And usually, a person's evaluation isn't so easily overturned by just one stage performance.
...And right now, there's no need for me to be the center.
In fact, I'd decline.
Center? It's good. It's the perfect position to grab attention at first.
But being the first center is a double-edged sword.
If someone qualified holds that position, they'll shine—
But I knew how easy it was to tear apart an unqualified center.
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